Brake-actuating mechanism.



G. A. LINDSTR'O'M.

BRAKE ACTUA'IING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNI. 21, lill?.

Patented Dec. h8, 1914.

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INVENTOR 'OLrv'LHL ATTORNEY JMW/ffm C. A. LINDSTRM.

BRAKE ACTUA'IING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JUN?A 21,1912.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

4 SHEETSv SHEET 2.

R O T N E V m G. A. LINDSTRM.

BRAKE AC,"1`UATIN(`,! MECHANISM.

APPLICATION ['TLRI) JUNE 21.1912` APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2l. 1912.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

l SHEETS SHEET 4.

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CHARLES A. LINDSTRM, 0F PITTSBURGH. IENNSYLVANIA. ASSIGNOR TO RATCHET BRAKE COMPANY, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

BRAKE-ACTUATING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dee. 8, 1914.

Application filed June 21. 1912. Serial No. 704,992.

To .'lZZ ir/lom it may concu/'11,.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. Llxnsrni'm, a citizen ot' the United States, residing in Pittsburgh, county of Allegheny, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Brake-Actuating il'echanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to brake actuating mechanism.

More specilically stated, it relates to hand brake actuating mechanism ot' the type which includes drop levers which are adapted to be raised l'rom a depending more or less vertical position to a horizontal position when it is desired to actunte the mechanism t'or the purpose otI applying the brakes.

(hie ol the objects ol my invention is to provide an improved construction ot' means lor auton'iatically actuating the clutch meehanism which is interposed between the said hand lever and the brake stattl when the said lever is raised or lowered.

."vnother object of my invention is to provide means whereby such clutch mechanism may be rendered inoperative independently ot the movement of the handle 'from a horizontal position to a dropped or depending position.

A still further object ot' my invention is to provde a structure comprising a drop hand lever associated with means for automatically controlling theclutch mechanism which is interposed between such lever and the brake stati' lor operatively connecting the said lever and the stall' by the raisingand the lowering oll the said lever in combination with means independent ot' the said lever l'or disconnecting the said clutch mechanism l'rom said stati'. i

Other objects and advantagi-is of my invention will be specilically relerred to hereinal'ter in the detailed description of my invention or will be apparent therefrom.

Certain forms of convenient embodiments ol my invention are illust ated in the accompanying drawings, but it will be understood that changes in the details ot (amstruction ma.v be made within the scope ofthe claims without departing therefrom.

lu the drawings: Figure l is a horizontal section ot' a brake mechanism embodying my invention ta lien on the line 1-1 of Fig. and also showing a top plan oi the outer end of the handle; Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2?. of Fig. l, a portion of the handle being shown in .side elevation and a portion thereof being shown as broken away; Fig. 3 is a transverse scctional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. ft is a view' partly in elevation and partly in section. with parts broken away, of the upper end portion ol a brake stati' provided with brake actuating mechanism embodying my invention, the portion ot' the handle which is shown being in depending position: Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a pawl adapted to engage with andto be disengaged from a ratchet wheel secured upon the bralv'o stall; Fig. (5 is a perspective view ot' a plunger adapted to act upon the said pawl to move it into engagement with the. said ratchet wheel; Fig. 7 is a horizont-al sectional view of a modified construction of mechanism embodying my invention, taken on the line 7 7 ot- Fig. S; and also showing the top plan view of the handle portion of the same.; Fig. S is a vertical section talv'en on the line 8-8 of Fig. T and also showing a portion of the handle in side elevation and a portion thereot' being broken away; `Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view on the line 9-0 of Figs. 7 and 8; Fig. 10 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section, with parts broken away, ot' the upper end portion oi' a brake. stati1 provided with my invention, oi' the said modified construction: Fig. 1l is a perspective vie-w of a pawl having a stem integrally connected therewith which pawl is adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from the teeth ol' a ratchet wheel secured upon the brake stall; Fig. 1L is a vertical :fcctional view' o'l' my invention corresi'iouding to the view shown in Fig. l and showing a manually operable lever tor actuating the paw] illustrated in such Fig. L. the upper end ot' the brake stall' being shown in elevation and a portion of the handle heilig shown in side elevation and a portion being broken away; Fig. lil is a vertical sectional view ot' my invention as the same is illustrated in Figs. 7 and S and showing in connection tlierewith in side elevation a manually operable lever for causing discrigagement of the pawl from the teeth of the ratchet wheel, the upper end ot the brake statt being shown in elevation and a portion of the handle being also shown in side elevation and a portion thereof being broken away; Fig` 11 is a. perspective view of the pawl shown in Fig. 13; Fig. 15 is a View in end elevation ol a car having a brake staff provided with brake actuating mechanism embodying my invention; Fig. 1G is a view in elevation of a portion of the side of a car illustrating the brake actuating mechanism comprising my invention and showing the connection of the brake statt with the brake beam actuating rod underneath the car; and Fig. 17 is a view taken on thc line 17-17 of Fig. 1G showing in plan a ratchet wheel secured to the said brake stati and a pivoted pawl in engagement with the same.

Although my invention is illustrated in Figs. 15 and 16 of the drawings as being applied to a freightcar of the gondola type, it will be understood that i-t is as well applicable to cars of other constructions, such, for instance, as day passenger cars and Pullman passenger' cars.

)referring to the drawings, 1 designates a brake stati which is jonrnaled at. its upper end in a bearing 2 provided in a bracket 3 which is secured by means of bolts or otherwise to some portion of' a car such, for instance, as thefsides or ends of the body of the car, being shown in Figs. 15 and 16 as connected with the end of the body of the car. g

Yreferring now to Figs. 1 to 11, 1G and 17 of the drawings, the upper edge ot' the bracket at points upon opposite sides of the bearing formed therein is provided with stop lugs 5 and 6 which are adapted. to engage the opposite sides of a eoperating stop lug 7 formed upon a housing 10 which surrounds and is secured to the upper end portion of the brake. staff 1. The lower end ot the housing is reduced as indicated at 11 and the end of such reduced portion rests upon the upper edge of the bearing 2 as is clearly shown in the drawings. 12 designates a ratchet wheel provided with a squared or angular opening which fits upon the squared or angular upper end portion 13 ot' the brake shaft l.. Such ratchet wheel is located in the housing 10. The upper end .ot the housing is closed by means ot' a cap 14 having an lmwardly projecting portion 15 which is hollow for the reception of the reduced upper end 16 ot' the brake statiq l. Such cap is secured to the reduced end 16 by means of a cross pin 17. The cap is also provided with an annular i'iange 18 which fits inside the upper end of the housing l0. The tit between the lange 1S and the housing is such that the latter may be rotated relativelyr to the cap 1l.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, the housing is provided with a hollow projection Q0 which extends laterally from one side thereof and is also provided with an actuated which handle at its inner end eX tends into the hollow projection 20 and is pivotally connected theretol by means of a pivot 2G. The said handle is hollow and at the lower side of its inner end is provided with a cross'web Q7 upon which the lower edge of a iange QS rests such flange being integral or otherwise connected to a plunger 30. The inner end of the said plunger is adapted to engage the outer end of the -pawl The outer end of the plunger BOis supported in a bearing formed in a plate 31 extending across the opening in the handle Q5. ``The said plunger is secured in its bearing in said plate by means ot a pin 532. 33 designates a spring coiled around the plunger 30 with one end resting against the cross bearing plate .'1 and the other end resting against the flange 28. The force of the said spring tends to cause inward rnovement of the said plungcr,such torce being transmitted to. the pawl Q2 to cause the latter to engage the ratchet teeth upon the ratchet wheel 12. Vhen the handle is iu the horizontal position indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the said spring operates to hold the pawl 22 in engagement with the ratchet wheel 12. The inner end of the handle 25, however, is provided adjacent to its lower edge at points beyond the pivot 26 with a couple ot' lugs 9,5 which when the handle. is dropped to a depending substantially vertical inoperative position as shown in Fig. -1 contact with the shoulders 23 upon the outer end of the pawl 2Q and cause out vard movement ot the latter to disengage the same troni the said teeth. In order to permit angular n'iovcmcnt of the upper edge or corner 3G of the inner end of the handle E25 the upper side of the projection 20 from the housing 1() isconslructed of arcuate shape, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 ot' the drawings, the. center of said arcuate shaped ortion being coincident with thcaxis of t e pivot 26.

Referring now to Figs. 7 to 11 inclusive, the handle L10 is secured to the projection l1 which extends from the housing 10 by means of a pivot QG. The bottom and opposite side portions ot the inner end of the handle 40 extend 'into the i'n'ojection al, the bottom being situated near the lower edge or side of the said housing while the opposite inner end portions oi the sides are located inside of the opposite sides of the projection 41 in narrow spaces formed between downwardly projectingr rihs t2 and the inner surfaces ot the opposite sides. The pivot pin f t is connected to the inner end of the hottom ot' the said handle. The top of the projection -ll is provided with raised or elevated portions lt in which arcuate shaped spaces arc provided concentric with the pivot 2G 'which spaces provide paths for lhc movement of the'corners to at the inner ends ot' the sides ot' the handle ttt lroject-ing inwardly from the lower edges of the inner ends of the sides ot the handle, heyond the pivot 2G, are lugs tt'i which are adapted to engage shoulders t7 formed upon the opposite sides of a pawl 4S when the handle is moved from the horizontal position shown in Figs. 7 and S to a depending substantially vertical position as shown in Fig. 1U. The pawl projects through and operates in the opening 2l formed in the side of the. housingr l() in alinement with the central portion of the projection t1 and is supported upon the lower edge ot the said opening and upon a cross plate 49 extending between the inner end portions ot' the sides of the handle 40. The pawl 48 is also provided with an integral extension 52 which is slidably supported in an opening 33 in the outer closed end 5t ot` the projection 41. A sprint;r which is coiled around the` said extension 5;). and one end otE which bears against the outer closed end of the projection t1 and the opposite. end ot which hears against the flanges 5G t'ormed upon the outer end ot' the pawl 4S exerts pressure against the. said pawl to cause the same to move inwardly to engage the ratchet teeth upon the ratchet wheel 12.

When the handle is dropped from the position shown in Figs. 7 and 8 the lugs t6 thereon engage the shoulders 47 to cause the automatic outward movement ot the pawl 48 in opposition to the spring to disengage the said pawl from the ratchet teeth on the ratchet wheel li. 0n the other hand. a movement of the handle from the position lshown in Fig. l0 to that shown in Figs. 7 and S removes the lugs Ll-t 'from contact with the shoulder vl? and permits the spriiml 5h to cause automatic movement ol the pawl inwardly to engage the said ratchet teeth.

Upon reference to the dra wings. Figs. l to ll. it will he observed that when the handle is moved in one direction the beveled end of the pawls 2i and 4S ride over the teeth of the ratchet wheel 12, whereas when the handle is moved in the opposite direc tion. the said pawl engages the said ratchet teeth and causes rotation of the ratchet wheel together with the brake statt' connected thereto. It will also he noted that the engagement ot the lug i upon the housing with the lugs 5 and 6 upon the bracket 9. limits the. angular movement of the said housing and the handle ot' the brake actuating,r mechanism. 'hen the hrake actuating mechanism is heini;- operated Jfor the purpose ot' applying the brake, it is necessary that means he provided for holding;` the hralte. stall' against; rotation during the interval when the handle is being returned to its initial position at which time the pawl or other equivalent device rides over the teeth ot the ratchet device secured to the brake, stall'. For this purpose l have provided the usual ratchet wheel tt) which is secured to the lower end portion of the brake stati' l. as indicated in Fig. 16 of the drawings, which ratchet wheel is adapted to he engaged hy a dog or pa wl (31 pivoted to a Stationary part ot' the car, which dog or pawl is adapted to he disengaged from the said ratchet h v a kick ol. the toot or in any other convenient manner. The said ratchet and pawl also operate to hold the said statt' against rotation during periods when the clutch mechanism (otl whatever construction) tor operatively connecting the handle to the statt is in disengaged or inoperative position.

The brake statl' is extended in the construction illustrated to a point hclow the bottom ot' the car hody, as indicated at (32, and to such extension the usual chain or other equivalent meansl (33 is secured which chain in this emhodiment extends around a shcave (SLL which is rotatably supported upon the end ot' a hralce applyingiir rod 65 underneath the car. l"rom the said sl'icavc the chain 63 extends toward the end ot: the car and is connected to a lixed point on the. car as indicated at titi. `When rotated in one direction the chain U3 is wound upon the extension ot' the lli-alte stati l to apply the brakes tl'n'ough the brake applying rod 65 and when rotated in the opposite direction the said chain is unwound to release the lil-altes from the car wheels. At times. tor instance, when it is desired to gradually release the lli-altes. it is desirable to have means to cause the disengagement of thc pawls 55;). and 48 from thc tccth oll the ratchet whccl l2 independently ot' any movement oll the. handles 25 and lll. 'l'o accomplish this end, l have provided the manually opcrahlc levers Tt) which arc pivoted at 7l and which are provided with handles Ti! which are adapted to he grasped h v the l'n'alteman or opcator for movingr the said levers ahout their pivots and are also provided with eX- tensions T3 which project through openings Tet in the jn'ojections 20 and il-.1 and extend into recesses 75 formed in the pawls '22 and 48. The lower ends of the projections 73 engage the outer walls ot'I the said recesses T5 so that when the handle portion T2 of: the said levers is depressed movement. olthe extension 73 is caused whereby outward movement of the pawl engaged thereby is ell'ected to cause its disengagement from the teeth ol'V the ratchet wheel l2. It will, ot course, be understood that the extension T3 o the lever T may be arranged so to contact with any portion of a pawl for the purpose of causing this retraction when such lever is actuated in the proper direction. Then it is desired to gradually release the brakes, the pawl is disengaged from the ratchet wheel by means of the manually operable lever T0. the brake stati' after such disengagement being held against rotation by means ol' the pawl or dog 6l in engagement with the ratchet wheel (3() and the hand lever, the housing and the pawl connected therewith are moved augularly about the brake stall to such position as may be desired when the said lever TU is released to permit the pawl to engage with the said ratchet wheel. The pawl or dogl 6l is then disengaged from the ratchet wheel and the brakeman having hold of the hand lever may permit and control the rotation of the brake statil in a direction to release the brake until such rotation is stopped by means of the engagement of the stop lug 'i' on the housing with the stop lug 6 upon the bearing. This operation may then be repeated as often as may be necessary to gradually release thc brake, or all ot the brake power may be lreleased at once without dropping down the handle.

lt should be understood that any other 4suitable torni and construction of clutch mechanism than that illustrated may be employed for connecting the hand lever to the bralie stad to rotate the same ior applying the brakes and for disconnecting the said .clutch mechanism when the said stall' rotates in the opposite direction to release the brakes.

ln one aspect my invention comprehends broadly the combination ina brake actuatv ing mechanism of aA drop lever With means independent ol" the said lever and operable by the hralieman or other person for the purpose ot' disengaging the clutch mechanism which is interposed between such drop lever and the brake stali'. Such clutch mechanism may be oit' the construction illustrated by me in my lrawings or may be ot' any other construction in which a ratchet device is secured to the brake statil and is adapted to be engaged'by means whereby the brake applying lever or handle may he operatively connectedto the said stati.

Having thus described my invention, I claim l. Brake actuating mechanism including in combination a. brake stall, a'drop lever adapted to told down out of the way, clutch mechanism interposed between said lever and said stall, and a pivoted member unaffected by the movementsotl said lever for renderingr said clutch mechanism inoperative when desired.

i2. Brake actuating mechanism including in combination a brake stall, a drop lever adapted to fold out of the way, clutch mechanism interposed between said lever and said brake staiiA i'or operatively connecting said' lever with said stall, and manually operable means unaffected by the movements of said lever for rendering said clutch mechanism inoperative when desired.

3. Brake actuating mechanism including in combination a brake sta tl, a ratchet thereon, a drop lever adapted to -fold down out of the way, a pawl interposed between said lever and said stall" and manually operable means movable independently of said lever 'for withdrawing said pawl from engagement with its ratchet when desired.

4. Brake actuating mechanism including in combination a. brake stati', ratchet mechanism for said stall'. a drop handle adapted to fold down close to said statil and pivotally mounted means manually operable to disconnect the ratchet mechanism when desired.

5. Brake actuating mechanism including in combination a brake stati', a ratchet fastened to said stati. a housing inclosing said ratchet, a pawl carried by said housing, a. drop handle pivoted to said housing and manually operable means pivoted to said housing for withdrawing said pawl when desired.

(i. Brake actuating mechanism including in combination a brake stati', a ratchet fastened to said stati, a housing adapted to swing about said ratcl'iet, a pawl carried by slid housing and adapted to engage said ratchet. a. drop handle pivoted to said housing and manually operable mea-ns pivoted to said housing aud having an extension en-y gaging said nawl whereby the panvl4 may be withdrawn trom operative engagement with its ratchet when desired.

7. Brake actuating mechanism including in combination a brake staff, a drop lever7 clutch mechanism interposed between the said drop lever and the said brake statt whereby the said drop lever when rotated in one direction angularlvabout the axis of the sta ff causes corresponding rotation thereof, and manually operable means supported near vsaid staff and independently of the said lever for disengaging the said clutch mechanism. whereby the said lever is operatively disconnected from the said brake stal and may be rotated thereon independently thereof.

Si/Brake actuating mechanism including in combination the brake statt', a ratchet device secured to the said stati", means movable independently of the said ratchet device and lever having means for causing the movement oi" the said movable means from and into engagementwith the said ratchet device as the said lever is dropped and raised, and manuallv operable means independent ol the said lever lor causing disengagement of the said movable means from the said ratchet device, whereby the said drop lever may be disconnected from the said brake stall at the will of the brakeman or other person.

9. Brake actuating mechanism including in combination a. brake stati', means lor rotatably supporting the said stati', a ratchet device secured at the u pper end of the said stati', a housing secured upon the said brake staff and surrounding the said ratchet device, the said ratchet device and the said housing being relatively movable, a clutch device movably supported upon the said housing, a drop lever having pivotal connection with the said housing and having means for engagement with the said clutch device to disengage the same from the said ratchet device when said lever is in dropped position, means for causing the said clutch device to engage the said ratchet device when the said lever is in horizontal position, and manually operable means independent of the said lever for disengaging the said clutch device from the said ratchet device for the purpose stated.

l0. Brake actuating mechanism including in combination a brake stali", means for ro tatably supporting the said staff, a ratchet wheel secured upon the said brake stall', a housing having rotatable connection with the said staff, a pawl supported upon the said housing and adapted to be engaged with and to be disengaged from' the said ratchet wheel, a hand lever having pivotal connection with the said housing and having means associated therewith for causing movement ot' the sai d pawl to disengage the same from the said ratchet wheel when the said lever is moved into position substantially parallel with the said brake staff, means for causing movement of the said pawl to engage the said ratchet wheel when the said lever is moved on its pivot into horizontal position. and means supported upon the said housing and being under control of the brakeman or other person for causing disengagement of the said pawl from the said ratchet wheel ins dependent of the said lever for the purpose stated.

11. Brake actuating mechanism, including in combination a brake stati", a drop lever, clutch mechanism for operatively connectin the said lever with the said brake sta whereby rotation of the latter may be caused to effect the application of the brake, stop devices for limiting the rotative movement of the said brake staff when the said clutch mechanism is in position to operatively connect the drop lever to said staff, and manually operable means independent of the said lever for actuating a member of the said clutch mechanism to disengage the same from another member thereof whereby the said brake staff may rotate independently of the said lever.

l2. Brake actuating mechanism including in combination a brake stall'. a ratchet wheel secured at the upper end o't' the said brake stall', a housing secured to said brake stati' and surrounding the said ratchet wheel, a pa wl supported upon the said housing,r and adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from the said ratchet wheel` a lever having pivotal connection with the said housing and the said lever having means beyond its pivot for engagement with the said pawl to retract and disengage the saine from the said ratchet wheel when said lever is dropped into vertical position. means for causing movement ol" the said pawl into engagement witlrthc said ratchet wheel when the lever is in horizontal position, and means supported upon the said housing for disengaging the said pawl from the said ratchet wheel at the will oi the brakeman or other person.

13. Brake actuating mechanism including in combination a brake stall', ratchet mechanism supported at the upper end of the said bra ke sta fl', a drop lever operatively related to the said ratchet mechanism and having means whereby when in a vertical position one member ol the said ratchet mechanism is held out ot' engagement with the other member thereof', means i'or causing engagement of the members of the said ratchet mechanism when the said lever is in horizontal position, and a manually operable lever supported independently ot the said drop lever for disengaging one ol? the members of the said ratchet mechanisn'i from the other when the said drop lever is in horizontal position `l'or the purpose stated.

14e. Brake actuating mechanism including in combination :1 brake staff, means for rotatably supportingr thc said brake stati', a ratchet wheel secured upon the said brake stall' at its upper end, a housing secured upon the said brake stall' and surrounding the .said ratchet wheel and having an opening therein, a pawl supported in said opening and adapted to cooperate with the said ratchet wheel, a drop lever having pivotal connection with the said housing, said drop lever being provided with means for retracting the said pawl when it is moved into vertical position, a spring pressed plunger supported upon the said drop lever and operating to move the said pawl into engagement with the said ratchet wheel when the said lever is in horizontal position, and manually operable means also having connection with `the said housing for retraeting the said pawls to disengage the same from the said ratchet wheel for the purpose stated when the said lever is in horizontal position. j

i5. Brake actuating mechanism including in combination a brake stai, means for rotatably supporting the said sta, a ratchet .ivhcel secured to the said brake staff at its upper end, a housing surrounding the said ratchet Wheel andalso secured' to the said brake sta il, the said housing having a'lateral projection and an opening through one side in alinement with the said projection, a pawl slidably supported in the said opening and adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from the said ratchet wheel, a drop lever pivoted to the said lateral projection and having means beyond its pivot for engagement with the said pawl to retract the same when the lever is in vertical position, and a spring pressed plunger supported upon the said drop lever and adapted to engage with the outer end of the said pawl to cause movement of the lattcxl into engagement with the said ratchet wheel when the said leveris in horizontal position.

1G. Brake actuating;r mechanism including in combination a brake stati', means for rotatably suj'iporting the said stati', a ratchet wheel secured to the said brake staff at its upper end, a housing surrounding the said ratchet wheel and also secu'redto the said ,brake stati", the said housing having a latsaid drop lever and adapted to engage with the outer end of the said pawl to cause movement of the latter into engagement with the said ratchet wheel when the said lever is in horizontal position, and manually operable means pivotally supported upon the said lateral projection and being independent of the said handle for effecting the retraction of the said pawl to disengage the same from the said ratchet wheel at the will of the brakeman or other person.

17. Brake actuating mechanism including in combination a brake staff, means for rotatably supporting the said brake stal', a ratchet Wheel secured upon the said brake staff at its upper end, a housing surrounding the said ratchet wheel and having a projection extending laterally therefrom, a pawl' for engaging the said ratchet .wheel which pawl is slidably supported upon the said housing and projects into the said laterally extending projection and the said pawl being provided with a vertical slot, a

drop lever pivoted to the said lateral projection and having means for engagement with the said pawl to retract the same when said lever is in vertical position, and a spring pressed plunger supported upon the said lever and adapted to engage with the outer end of the said pawl to cause inward movement thereof to engage the said ratchet wheel when the said lever is in horizontal position, and a manually operable lever pivoted upon the said lateral projection, thel said lever havin-g an extension which extends through the upper side of the said lateral projection into engagement with the said pawlat one end of the said slot, the said lever being adapted to be moved in one direction to disengagetlie Said pawl from the said ratchet Wheel when the said drop lever is in horizontal position.,

18. In hand operated lbrake actuating mechanism, a rotatable brake stati", clutch mechanism 'adapted to convert oscillatory movements into uni-directional rotary movements of the brake stati', a housing'mexnber for theventire clutch mechanism, a hand lever pivoted to the housing member so that it can be swung :from a non-interfering depending osition to an extended operative position or oscillation thereof, the hand 1ever being provided with means beyond its pivot for disenga ging the clutch mechanism when in its depending position and for allowing engagement of the clutch mechanism when in its extended position and additional means for disengaging Said clutch mechanism when said handle is extended; suhstantially as described.

19. In hand operated brake actuating mechanism, a rotatable brake staff, a ratchet fastened on the brake staff, a sliding pawl .y

adapted tol engage the ratchet in one direction of oscillation andto disengage therey fromv in the reverse direction of oscillation in order to convert oscillatory .movements intouni-directional rotary movements ofthe brake stati, a member carrying the pawl, and a hand lever pivoted to said member so that it can be swung from a non-interfering depending position to an extended operative position or oscillatingthe pawl, the hand y, lever being `provided with means beyond its pivot for disengaging the pawl from the ratchet when in its depending position and for allowing the pawl to engage the ratchet when in its extended position; substantially as described. i

20. Brake actuating mechanism including in combination a brake stati), a ratchet wheel secured upon said brake staff, a housing having rotatable connection with said staff, a sliding pawl carried by said housing and adapted to engage with and to be disengaged from the said ratchet Wheel, a hand lever pivotally connected with said housing and having-,means associated therewith for j, g'

withdrawing said pawl away from said shaft when said lever is folded down into a position substantially parallel with the brake staff, and means for causing movement of said pawl into engagement with its ratchet when 'said lever is moved outward into operative position.

2l. Brake actuating mechanism including in combination a brake staff, a ratchet wheel secured upon said brake statt' at its upper end, a housing secured upon said brake stati and surrounding the said ratchet wheel, a sliding clutch member supported in said housing and adapted to c0- operate with said ratchet wheel, a drop lever having pivotal connection with said housing, said lever being provided with a pair ol lugs tor slidingly retracting said sliding clutch member when the lever is Vfolded down out of the way, and a spring operative to move said sliding clutch member into engagen'ient with said ratchet wheel when said lever is in extended position.

The combination ot' a brake stall', a ratchet thereon, a housing inclosing said ratchet and adapted to swing about said statl, a sliding clutch member engaging said ratchet to turn said statt, a drop handle pivoted to said housing and adapted to `fold down out ot' the way, a spring arranged to hold said clutch member in yielding engagcment with said ratchet, and a drop handle having a bifurcated end carrying lugs; for engagement with said clutch member and serving automatically to slidingly withdraw said clutch member i'rom engagement with the ratchet when said handle drops to folded position.

213. In hand operated brake actuating mechanism, a rotatable brake staff, a ratchet 'fastened on the brake stati', a sliding clutch member adapted to engage the ratchet in one direction of oscillation and to disengage therefrom in the reverse direction of oscillation in order to convert 0scillatorir movements into uni-directional rotar)v movements of the brake sta tl', a housing carrying said clutch member and a hand lever pivoted to said housing so that it can be swung from a non-interfering depending position to an extended operative position for oscillating the clutch member, the hand lever being bifurcated and provided with opposing lugs lor disengaging theI clutch member from the ratchet when in its depending position and for allowing the clutch member to engage the ratchet when in its extended position.

2l. Brake actuating mechanism includingr in combination a brake stall, a ratchet fastened to said stall', a housing inclosing said ratchetv and adapted to swing about the same, a spring pressed pawl mounted to slide in said housing toward and away from said sha t't. au operating handle connectedwith said housing to swing the same and a releasing lever pivoted to the top of said housing and having one end projecting:r toward said'shalt in convenient position for depression, and having its other end projecting down into said housing and engagii'ig with said sliding pawl to retract the same when desired; substantially as described.

25. Brake actuating mechanism including in combination a brake statt', a ratchet fastened to said sta l?, a housing inclosing said ratchet and adapted to swing about the same, a spring pressed pawl mounted to slide in said housing toward and away from said shaft, a drop handle pivoted to said housing and having a part adapted to engage said sliding pawl to withdraw the same when the handle drops and a releasing lever pivoted to said housing and having one end projecting thereover in convenient position for depression and having its other end engaging said sliding pawl to retract the same when desired; substantially as described. i

ln testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention` I have hereunto signed my name this 12th dav of June, A. D. 192:2.

CHARLES A. 'LINDSTROL In the presence of- FRANK E. Minnen, Join: A. Teoma, Jr. 

